Out and About in the neighborhood
Welcome to falling leaves, cold mornings and crisp afternoons, unless it’s 90 degrees, but whatever.
Starting off on a sad note. The irreplaceable and original Out and About columnist, Lois Riker has died, and I will let her good friend, Carol Fink, describe their friendship.
“Yes, my dear friend Lois Riker passed peacefully on the 19th. She last wrote that her two favorite things about life here were researching and writing Out and About (I was blessed to be her ‘friend’ who ran around town with her, frequently found at the bar looking for news! And chatting up bartenders, her favorite people!), and she missed our town dinners at the French Laundry! They made her sooo happy! In her honor, do share a glass of red wine with a friend, two- or four-legged. She lived to 95, a full pretty fabuloussss life, I’d say, and she LOVED our town with all her heart! Know it’s always 5 o’clock in heaven; she’s up there with Jack and all the dogs. She will be much missed.”
It’s a humbling task to try to carry on this column after the wonderful and weekly efforts of those such as Lois and Devon Avery, but Myrna and I try, so here’s what I’ve gleaned since my last scribble.
Bud’s BBQ is a great addition to the town center, and the ribbon-cutting dinner was a good chance to meet new and old residents such as Jeanne Sauer, who, with her spouse, Mark Bryson, is enjoying their move to Hopper Creek. Mimi and Jim Young and Betty Priolo were also at the table.
As long as the weather holds and the pool’s still warm, we look forward to aqua aerobics ably lead by Karen Zanetell. Good thing it’s not exclusive to the Vintage neighborhood residents, so we can welcome Pamela Means and Jan Conn to churn the water.
It’s been more than a few weeks, but I learned that Carol and Tom Shirmang hosted their March Madness Basketball group for the annual Winners Dinner. Former resident and town council member Bill Dutton was in Yountville visiting from Scottsdale, Arizona, along with his friend Celia. The group included Alan McGauran, Kathryn Hoff and Kaye Donnelly. This group met 20+ years ago taking spin (bicycle) classes at Steve Zanetell’s Yountville Health Studio.
I hope you attended the recent Town Bash and admired the ‘50s garb worn by so many. My vote for best outfits goes to the unrecognizable, due to their wonderful wigs, Terry Brenner and Keith Thomas, but Claudia Rodman was also voteworthy in pink!
Pam Williams was among those supporting veterans at their recent rally. She was pleased to introduce herself to our congressional representative, Mike Thompson, and was particularly amused when he assumed that her wearing a Yountville Fit T-shirt meant he could instruct her to drop and execute push-ups.
My friend Liz Moffitt was among the lucky ones enjoying the music by locals Mônica da Silva and Chad Alger at the Vintage House recently. I’ve been a fan from the first time I heard them, especially when I heard Mônica sing Dolly Parton’s Jolene.
I attended the always interesting night Bookmark Stories, “a collaboration to encourage the creation of microfiction stories (60 works max) that fit on a bookmark written by Napa County authors.”
There were 94 entries and among the winners was our own, Yountville Sun founder, Sharon Stensaas, writing about “time.” Only the words of the five finalists make it onto an actual bookmark, which you can acquire with a visit to our local library.
I’m especially smitten by the one titled “Mark Book.” Many thanks to Yountville Arts, the Napa County Library and Friends of the Yountville Library for sponsoring this wonderful program. Moderator Geoffrey Leigh announced that next year’s contest will include a category of submissions in Spanish. The stories will not include translations, so, if necessary, make sure your Google app is open for those in Spanish.
The 2025 Yountville Bocce season has come and gone, and having no designated partner, I was particularly lax with attendance. But watching the tournament last Saturday was a treat. I’m sure that Nancy Caldwell will ably report on it, but I’d like to give a shout out to all that played, especially my friend, Barbara Pirondini, and Paula Simi, who qualified through the “wild card” play off and superbly rolled all the way to the finals, only losing to the eventual champion, Rob Whitham.
As if the tournament weren’t enough fun, it was followed that evening by a reception at Bud’s BBQ and dinner in the Heritage Room. I do believe that my salmon on risotto was the best meal I’ve ever had at a group dinner (Chef Bob Hurley’s venison entrée comes close.) During introductions and thank-you’s, from dinner chair Sherry Breitigam, we learned that our culinary enjoyment was due to “Chef Omar.” Kudos to him and his staff! I highly recommend him for your next catered meal.
Enjoy this spooky month, which also includes my milestone birthday. My next literary offering will be by an official “old person.” Then again, age is just a number.
Cheers,
Susan
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